Bistro Newsletter

Meet Madeline Freeman. Anybody who has sat at our bar for the last 13 years knows Maddy. If you’ve been around since the old location in the Town Center, you may remember Maddy from there. That is where I met Maddy. I was 20 something and she was mumblemumble-something, the year was 1992, I think. She had short hair back then and rock-solid calves from biking some major miles. She also had a tattoo on her leg, and I liked her right away. Back then Maddy was a hockey fan, an exercise guru and a huge music devotee. One of her favorites was and still is David Bowie. She has an enormous collection of tickets from concerts she went to. I’ve drooled enviously over the bands she has seen.

Maddy was a constant behind the bar until Chef Steve swooped her up for Steve and Rocky’s. Smart move as Maddy had a loyal following. She was behind that bar until I called her one day. We had maintained a friendship over the years, mostly glued together by our time working for Mary & Tom. We would get together with the old gang… 80-year-old Dorthy from the kitchen, Sue (the cookie lady), Lori, Karen K., Karen Schroder & Pauline to name a few. We made sure to see each other at least once a year and Maddy would visit me at Streetside Seafood in between our old gal visits.​

When I got married in 2010, I couldn’t think of a bartender who I would like more at my small and intimate wedding. Every character there was someone special to me and Maddy topped that list. Not only is she a fabulous bartender with knowledge of the classic cocktails shaken or stirred perfectly, but she is a dear friend. After that emotional bonding time at my wedding, I knew Mary & I needed her back behind the bar at the new location when we re-opened. It was time to steal her back from Chef Steve. Not only did she have a loyal following of guests, but we also knew we could trust her with guiding the new bar staff to be the spot where “everybody knows your name, they’re always glad you came”. She has a genuine warmth about her and understands the essence of true hospitality. After Maddy gets you your drink, she’ll chat you up and find some common ground. She remembers names and faces and what your preferences are. Maddy has had guests follow her here from her Johnathon B. Pub days at Twelve Oaks!
Our friendship is still going strong. I find that the two of us are often on the same page. I get her, and she gets me. I can look at her and I know what she’s thinking. We share a love for our animals (she has 5 cats!) and we both enjoy gardening finished with a cool drink watching the plants grow. Maddy likes a good bourbon and she is definitely recycling that bottle, composting her food scraps, filling her rain barrels and genuinely loving Mother Nature.
Maddy has been at this location for 13 years. The other day she mentioned she walked into the Bistro with me and she’ll walk out with me. I’m hoping that sticks. Stop in and ask Maddy about the details between her first bartending gig at The Back Seat in Lake Orion (circa 1978 maybe???) until today… I bet she has some good stories.